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Public Safety Frequently Asked Questions

The Department of Public Safety is addressing these important issues to improve service to Alaskans.

What is the largest issue facing the Department of Public Safety?

Our most pressing problem is staffing. Not having an adequate amount of
personnel restricts our ability to effectively deal with issues in an adequate
time frame. Requests for service frequently stack up causing frustration and
anxiety for everyone involved. The staffing shortage is across all DPS divisions including AST, AWT, Fire Prevention and the Crime Lab. Being short handed also leads to personnel feeling overworked and unproductive. The hectic pace drives valued employees to seek out other employment opportunities or they take an early retirement. This only perpetuates the staffing shortage. Operating understaffed limits our ability to institute proactive safety measures and often forces us to be only reactive.

Bottom Line: We recognize that we have difficulties recruiting
and retaining quality employees and we are actively addressing this issue. Once the department is fully staffed, many problems will be alleviated.

Community and legislative support: In order to effectively
compete for qualified law enforcement applicants and critical support positions, we need to have attractive salary packages. Higher salaries attract more applicants and that allows the Department of Public Safety to be more selective in the hiring process. This will inevitably lead to a higher quality and quantity of new applicants and greater public safety.

How are AST and AWT increasing recruitment success?

Streamlining the recruitment process and ensuring our department is an
attractive employer is a primary focus of DPS. Our recruitment office has
submitted a number of helpful changes to the hiring process that AST and AWT are currently implementing. Increasing the number of recruitment cycles, improving communication and notifications sent to recruits and providing open lateral hire to out-of-state applicants will bolster our success in recruiting and retaining quality applicants. DPS is also working toward expanding our recruiting efforts in the lower 48 states and automatically disqualifying applicants who do not meet minimum qualifications. (This helps to preserve our hiring resources). In order to be fully staffed, we must also focus our efforts toward retention of current troopers. DPS is developing trooper satisfaction surveys to find out how we can better serve our troopers. We are also doing more to assist troopers in adjusting to new communities following transfers.

Bottom Line: AST and AWT are implementing innovative techniques
to streamline and improve the hiring process and retain more troopers.

Community and legislative support: Encourage any interested
parties to apply to be an Alaska State Trooper. Contact your legislators and ask that public safety be a budget priority.

What is DPS doing to about rural justice needs?

The conditions in rural Alaska pose unique challenges for law enforcement.
The Department of Public Safety has made strides to address the main issues:
illegal alcohol importation and extremely high rates of sexual assault and
sexual abuse. In 2004, DPS added seven new trooper positions in Western Alaska, bringing our total number of commissioned positions for rural Alaska to 52. In an ongoing effort to curb boot legging, the state recently passed legislation to encourage the voters of Bethel and Kotzebue to allow alcohol distribution
centers in their communities and require the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board to set up a database to track alcohol shipments to the bush. Troopers and Village Public Safety Officers are always reliant on the local communities for leads on illegal activities.

Bottom Line: DPS is committed to serving rural communities and
increasing public safety for all Alaskans and partnership with the local
residents is imperative to that.

Community and legislative support: Work in partnership with the
troopers by reporting illegal activity. Support local and state leaders who are actively trying to curb bootlegging and drug dissemination. Create a community that speaks openly about alcohol and drug issues, sexual assault, domestic
violence and sexual abuse.

How is the Department addressing Alaska’s high sexual assault and abuse
rate?

The state of Alaska suffers the highest rate of forcible rape in the nation. DPS is addressing this from a variety of angles. We are leading and sponsoring the training, funding and equipment needed for SARTs (Sexual Assault Response
Teams). The DNA database and program are expanding with increased collection of samples and new forensic technician positions in the crime lab. We have
increased our trooper training requirements for handling and investigating these crimes. A pilot training project is underway for VPSOs, health aides and
behavioral health aides who are often the first responders to many sex crimes.
In addition, DPS is developing a sex crimes field guide to further assist
troopers in conducting successful investigations. We have also partnered with
the Office of Children’s Services in order to work in tandem with other
agencies. We’ve also partnered with the University of Alaska’s Justice Center to conduct a trend analysis on our sexual assault and stalking cases. While working to lower the occurrence of sexual violence and evaluate our own response and actions, DPS also recognizes the need for the local communities, tribal entities and other state and public health agencies to join us in the fight against these crimes.

Bottom Line: DPS is aware of the epidemic rate of sexual violence in Alaska and seeks to partner with local government, other state agencies and the public in order to end the violence.

Community and legislative support: Report any signs of domestic
violence or sexual abuse to authorities. Implement a "no tolerance" rule for all interpersonal violence and actively communicate that in your community. Support local domestic violence shelters and victims who chose to speak out.

What is the Department doing to improve highway safety?

DPS has been using federal highway safety funds to run cautionary DUI and
seatbelt ad campaigns, offer overtime for troopers to provide traffic
enforcement and enact special DUI enforcement teams. In the last year, the
department partnered with other state agencies to institute two Highway Safety
Corridors Seward and Parks highways). Highway Safety Corridors are roadways
identified as high risk for collisions, speeding and other dangers. In an effort to decrease those risks, these highways now have increased patrol units and double fines for violations. The safety corridors are a long-term project we continue to work on. In addition to these projects, DPS recognizes the
additional need for enforcement during the annual Alaska State Fair and all
major holidays; extra troopers are added to increase enforcement during these
events.

Community and legislative support: Abide by all traffic laws and require those that drive with you do the same. Report all erratic driving and
anyone who chooses to drive while intoxicated.

What changes will we see with the separation of brown shirts and blue
shirts?

The transition to separating the brown shirts from the blue shirts is going
relatively smoothly and the two colonels are working together to ensure a
positive outcome. Public safety continues to be paramount and crimes against
persons will still be the priority. If a trooper sees a crime, witnesses
suspicious activity or receives a call to respond to an emergency, that trooper is required to act accordingly regardless of their division. However, Alaska’s most valuable renewable resources are its fish and wildlife. It is imperative
that DPS has Alaska Wildlife Trooper to protect our natural resources.

Bottom Line: The separation of brown shirts and blue shirts sends an important message to our residents and visitors: we value our natural
resources and are committed to protecting them.

Community and legislative support: Recognize that all troopers
aim to protect the residents and the best interests of Alaska. Respect the
hunting and fishing regulations that allow our wildlife numbers remain in
balance and establish a friendly relationship with your local Alaska Wildlife
Trooper. Report all illegal hunting or fishing activities.

How is the Department of Public Safety meeting the growing need for crime
laboratory services?

As the only nationally accredited full service forensic science laboratory in the state of Alaska, the Scientific Crime Detection Laboratory continues to increase its
support to all law enforcement agencies throughout the state. With the passage
of HB90, the laboratory will be expanding entries into the combined DNA index
system (CODIS) to include samples from those individuals arrested for
qualifying charges. Thi for
qualifying charges. This will greatly increase the prospects of solving
previously unsolved crimes. In addition, the laboratory has provided crime scene technicians stationed outside the city of Anchorage to provide more rapid response for evidence development and collection. This combined with a commitment to provide continuing education (training) ensures that the needs of law enforcement
agencies for excellence in forensic scientific analysis are met.

Bottom line: DNA collection and processing links individuals to
unsolved crimes. This technology has dramatically impacted the effectiveness of the criminal justice system. and legislative support: Actively support innovative
legislation such as HB 90 that expands the effectiveness and breadth of DNA
collection. In addition, support legislators who are committed to investing in
this valuable criminal justice resource.